«I can promise and I promise.» Undoubtedly the passing away of Adolfo Suarez last week was a monumental event. I managed to join the media cattle pen outside the Congress when the funeral cortege arrived and was fortunate to be able to walk up the carpeted steps and enter the main entrance to file pass the flag draped coffin as it lay in state, like the thousands of people of all generations who had spent hours lining the streets to pay their last respects to the man who brought democracy to Spain.

Durante la larga década que duró la enfermedad que cobró la vida de Adolfo Suárez, el domingo 23, España pasó por unas dificultades económicas, políticas y sociales serias. Los síntomas negativos todavía subsisten y hacen dudar frecuentemente sobre la viabilidad de lo conseguido desde el final del franquismo.